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Experience the most realistic McKinsey Solve Game practice available. Get one free Sea Wolf session and one free Redrock case, plus unlimited Sustainable Futures Lab practice — free for every account.
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Trusted by McKinsey candidates at the world's top universities
What are the McKinsey Solve Games?
The McKinsey Solve assessment is a suite of digital games developed by Imbellus, a cognitive assessment company acquired by McKinsey in 2021. It replaced the McKinsey Problem Solving Test (PST), a traditional written case-maths paper, as the firm's primary early-stage screening tool for new hires worldwide.
- Measures cognitive traits: systems thinking, critical reasoning, and decision-making under time pressure
- Candidates are assessed through immersive simulations, scored automatically with no interviewer subjectivity
- Used as McKinsey's primary early-stage candidate screening tool worldwide
What games are included in the McKinsey Solve Games?
The Solve assessment includes two core games — and a third module in limited rollout. Each tests a distinct set of cognitive skills under time pressure.
- Redrock Island (35 min): A case study across four sequential phases. Candidates interpret data exhibits, perform calculations with a built-in calculator, and submit a structured written recommendation.
- The Sea Wolf (30 min): An optimisation game across three ocean sites. Candidates select three microbes per site whose combined attribute averages and traits satisfy each site's specific constraints.
- Sustainable Futures Lab / SFL (20 min, select regions): A scenario-based module testing situational judgement and decision-making. Check your invitation email — 65 minutes means Redrock + Sea Wolf only; 85 minutes means all three.
How Can I Best Practice for the McKinsey Solve Game?
Knowing what the games are is only the first step. The candidates who pass are those who've spent time in realistic McKinsey Solve game practice — building the instincts and speed needed to perform under actual test conditions. Our platform lets you start that practice today — Sea Wolf and Redrock on the free trial, plus Sustainable Futures Lab at no extra cost.
Realistic Scoring
Practice with the same constraint-based scoring logic used in the real assessment. See exactly how your choices are evaluated — not a simplified mock.
Timed Practice Sessions
Each simulator runs under real time limits — 30 minutes for Sea Wolf, 35 minutes for Redrock — so you build the pace needed on test day.
Immediate Answer Review
After every session, access detailed feedback and worked answers. Understand what you got right, what you missed, and exactly why.
Start your McKinsey Solve game practice right now
One free Sea Wolf session and one free Redrock case, plus unlimited Sustainable Futures Lab practice — no credit card, no commitment.
Start Free PracticeWhat's Included in Our Free McKinsey Solve Simulations
Sea Wolf Simulator Trial
Experience one round of the Sea Wolf game session with all features enabled. Practice the microbe selection process and see your results.
Redrock Case Study Trial
Access one complete Redrock case with all four phases. Investigation, Analysis, Report, and Cases — the full experience.
Sustainable Futures Lab — free for everyone
Practice the full McKinsey Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL) simulator with no usage limits — ranking tasks, branching scenarios, and timed missions. No upgrade required.
Immediate feedback and Answers
Get instant feedback on your performance and access to detailed answers. Learn from your mistakes and improve quickly.
Instant Access
Start practicing immediately after signup. No waiting, no approval process — just sign up and go.
Experience Both The Redrock and Sea Wolf Simulations
See what you'll practice with your free trial — authentic simulations of both McKinsey Solve Game formats.
Sea Wolf Simulator
Practice the time-pressured microbe selection game with realistic constraints and scoring.
Redrock Simulator
Navigate authentic case studies with interactive exhibits and detailed feedback on interpretation.
How It Works
Create Account
Sign up with your email — takes 30 seconds. No credit card needed.
Choose a Simulator
Pick Sea Wolf or Redrock for your trial, or open the Sustainable Futures Lab simulator — SFL is free for everyone.
Start Practicing
Jump right in and experience the full simulator. See your results and learn.
Why Start with Free Simulations?
We believe you should experience our tools before making any commitment. That's why we offer genuine free simulations — not a limited demo, but access to the full simulator experience.
- No credit card required
- Full simulator features enabled
- See exactly how our tools work
- Decide if it's right for you
Join candidates who've practiced with our simulators
Solve Games Guide is the best platform available to prepare you for the McKinsey Solve Games
The most realistic McKinsey Solve practice simulator available online — built so you walk in prepared.
Redrock Simulator
Practice the Redrock Case — Exactly as It Appears in the Real McKinsey Solve Test. Our simulator mirrors the real question formats, interface, and ambiguity so you're not decoding the assessment for the first time under pressure.
- Four phases: Investigation, Analysis, Report, and Case
- 35-minute timed session with built-in calculator and interactive journal
- All 10 Redrock Island case scenarios included
- Detailed feedback and score breakdown after each simulation
Sea Wolf Simulator
Prepare for the McKinsey Solve Sea Wolf Game Under Realistic Time Pressure. Our simulator mirrors the structure, mechanics, and pace of the real assessment so you're not adapting for the first time on test day.
- Three sites to complete within 30 minutes
- Four phases: Profiling, Categorising, Prospecting, and Treatment
- Per-site scoring: 20% deduction for each violated constraint
- Unlimited replays with instant AI scoring feedback
Sea Wolf Solver
Stop second-guessing your microbe selections. Our solver computes the optimal combination instantly, helping you understand the math behind perfect scores in the McKinsey Solve Sea Wolf game.
- Computes the mathematically optimal ecosystem instantly
- Shows constraint analysis and tiebreaker logic used to reach the solution
- Understand the reasoning structure McKinsey expects — not just the answer
- Included with lifetime access — one-time payment, no subscriptions
Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL)
Prepare for the Sustainable Futures Lab under real time pressure: interconnected scenarios that test judgement and trade-offs, not calculations. Our full simulator is free for every account — unlimited practice.
- 20 minutes, 13 questions — ranking plus branching scenario choices
- Free unlimited practice in-app for all signed-in users
- Often appears when your invitation states 85 minutes (phased rollout by region)
- Most candidates describe it as the most intuitive of the three modules
Trusted by McKinsey Candidates Worldwide
Real results from candidates at the world's top universities who used Solve Games Guide to prepare.
4,000+
Users
100+
Countries
“Passed with a top score. The practice cases are the closest thing to the real test I've come across.”
Charlotte
Passed McKinsey Solve, London
“Did three sessions and felt ready. Nothing on the day surprised me.”
James
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“Redrock Study was the one that clicked for me. By the second run-through I could feel my pattern recognition improving.”
Priya
Passed McKinsey Solve, Singapore
“I was sceptical at first, but the simulation is genuinely close to the actual test format. The Redrock cases in particular were well-designed. Would recommend to anyone applying.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve, MENA
“I was really stressed about the Solve but after a few practice sessions I felt so much calmer going in. Thank You!”
Giulia
Passed McKinsey Solve, Milan
“Great practice!”
M.
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“Solid prep. Redrock is the one to spend real time on.”
T.
Passed McKinsey Solve, New York
“I'd tried a few other resources but this was the most accurate to the real test. The timing pressure on Redrock felt exactly right.”
Sara
Passed McKinsey Solve, London
“Very helpful. Passed on my first attempt.”
K.
Passed McKinsey Solve, MENA
“The Redrock cases were spot on. Felt like I'd already seen the format before walking in.”
D.
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“I almost didn't bother preparing separately for Solve but a friend recommended this. Really glad I did — the format is quite specific and practising it made a big difference.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve
“It does what it says. Good preparation.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve
“Passed with a top score. The practice cases are the closest thing to the real test I've come across.”
Charlotte
Passed McKinsey Solve, London
“Did three sessions and felt ready. Nothing on the day surprised me.”
James
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“Redrock Study was the one that clicked for me. By the second run-through I could feel my pattern recognition improving.”
Priya
Passed McKinsey Solve, Singapore
“I was sceptical at first, but the simulation is genuinely close to the actual test format. The Redrock cases in particular were well-designed. Would recommend to anyone applying.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve, MENA
“I was really stressed about the Solve but after a few practice sessions I felt so much calmer going in. Thank You!”
Giulia
Passed McKinsey Solve, Milan
“Great practice!”
M.
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“Solid prep. Redrock is the one to spend real time on.”
T.
Passed McKinsey Solve, New York
“I'd tried a few other resources but this was the most accurate to the real test. The timing pressure on Redrock felt exactly right.”
Sara
Passed McKinsey Solve, London
“Very helpful. Passed on my first attempt.”
K.
Passed McKinsey Solve, MENA
“The Redrock cases were spot on. Felt like I'd already seen the format before walking in.”
D.
Passed McKinsey Solve, US
“I almost didn't bother preparing separately for Solve but a friend recommended this. Really glad I did — the format is quite specific and practising it made a big difference.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve
“It does what it says. Good preparation.”
Anonymous
Passed McKinsey Solve
From the Blog
Guides, strategies, and tips to help you prepare for the McKinsey Solve.
McKinsey Sustainable Futures Lab Practice Traits: The Three Dimensions the Simulator Measures
Sustainable Futures Lab practice traits in Solve Games Guide: prioritisation, working with ambiguity, teamwork and stakeholder management—and what simulator scores mean.
How to Prep for Sustainable Futures Lab Without Burning Redrock and Sea Wolf Time
Sustainable Futures Lab preparation should be real but proportionate. Here is how to allocate prep time across McKinsey Solve when SFL is in play—without memorised frameworks or domain cramming.
McKinsey Solve: 65 Minutes vs 85 Minutes — What Changes (and When Sustainable Futures Lab Appears)
Your invite email states total assessment time. Here is what 65 vs 85 minutes usually means for McKinsey Solve, when the Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL) appears, and how to plan prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about practicing for the McKinsey Solve.
What is the McKinsey Solve assessment?
What is the best way to prepare for McKinsey Solve?
How accurate are the Solve Games Guide simulators?
How many practice simulations are included in the free plan?
What is the difference between the Solve games and Imbellus games?
What is the Ecosystem game? Has it been phased out?
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